Community Members Express Support for Progressive City Budget

Mayor Frey’s August budget slashed funds to services our communities rely on and included a historic raise in property taxes. Luckily, the City Council has pushed back with a better budget.

MINNEAPOLIS — Before the Minneapolis City Council convened their third and final public hearing on the 2025 city budget, community members gathered to express their support of Council’s work to lower the Mayor’s recommended property tax levy increase, while maintaining investments in vital city programs. Speakers included representatives of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, Take Action MN, Camp Nenookaasi, Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP), MN United Parents and Our Streets Minnesota. 

Mpls for the Many Chair Chelsea McFarren kicked off the press conference thanking the City Council for their willingness to respond to a diverse group of voices from the community:

“Fortunately, we have a City Council who is willing to step in where Mayor Frey doesn’t. And what they have done is historic. They have reduced Mayor Frey’s 8.3% levy to 6.9%, all while retaining the crucial services and programs that our communities rely on that Mayor Frey was willing to eliminate.”

Natasha Dockter, First Vice Chair of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers shared how a number of amendments, from immigration legal services to traffic calming and funding for the Stable Homes, Stable Schools program offer support to students, teachers and beyond:

“We are so grateful (to the City Council) that they took the budget process seriously, responding to a wide array of concerns from the community.”

Speaking on behalf of parents organizing with Take Action MN, Lindsay Turner highlighted the City Council’s budget investing public dollars in childcare:

“Take Action MN believes that every baby, toddler, pre-Ker in our community deserves safe and enriching and joyful places to grow and develop, regardless of their families, strengths, struggles and income.”

Speaking as an organizer with Camp Nenookaasi and an MPS parent, Christin Crabtree emphasized the need for tangible steps to address housing and homelessness, including emergency housing vouchers; Stable Homes, Stable Schools; AVIVO Village; and Safe Outdoor Spaces, saying:

“(These) are initiatives that will deliver results for our community, while increasing livability for all of us. These amendments are forward-thinking investments in a vibrant city where well-being and health are truly prioritized.”

From labor protections to Behavioral Crisis Response Teams, senior activist Byron Richard focused on the wide range of amendments that strengthen our communities, including funding for code abatement and home repair loans to keep seniors safe and in their homes:

“They help create…a bulwark of care and protection for Minneapolis residents who need it most, including seniors, that lift up the entire community.”

Speaking on behalf of Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP), Dante Leyva highlighted how City Council’s strong track record fighting for workers was reflected in their budget:

“The City Council has put forward a budget that starts to address the real challenges facing working class people in the city, including the vast majority of musicians.”

Our Streets Minnesota’s Carly Ellefsen closed off the comments by highlighting the Council’s robust measures to invest in more traffic calming measures, which people across the city have long fought for:

“Traffic calming measures like speed bumps, raised crosswalks and better universal street design save lives. They make it safer for our children to walk to school; for our elders to cross the street; and for everyone to navigate their neighborhoods without fear.”